Jonathan Fairbanks and Clyde Edwin Tuck

Past and Present of Greene County, Missouri

Early and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens

JAMES A. RAMSEY. The constant stream of humanity--capable boys and girls from the country--that has flowed toward the cities of the world, especially during the past few decades, has made a new economical problem in our civilization. The truth is, if the children of farmers are given the right sort of education at home they will not desert us and go to the city. They will stay on the farm if they are so instructed as to feel that on the farm they may find just as much pleasure in life and be just as successful. In an Iowa county the rural pupils were examined as to what they wanted to do with their lives. Most of the boys and almost all the girls answered that they meant to leave the farm when they grew up. Two years afterward the boys and girls in the same neighborhood were asked the same question. Most of them answered that they meant to stay on the farm. The change had been brought about because the teachers had been given more practical work to do in the schools. They had been giving the teaching a farm slant. They had been working in the schools on farm matters, and the girls had been studying domestic science, and they had forgotten about leaving the farm. They had been doing pleasant, interesting, practical work, and they were happy. They had come to see that there is just as fascinating work, just as intellectual work, just as big work in the country as any of them could expect to get in the city--in fact, much higher work than most of them could expect.

James A. Ramsey, a successful and contented farmer of Clay township, Greene county, has been wise enough to remain in the country. He was born on March 23, 1866, near Effingham, Illinois. He is a son of Robert and Mary Anna (Jewlus) Ramsey. The father was born in Illinois in 1838 and was reared on a farm in that state, receiving his education in the common schools. About a year after the Civil war broke out he enlisted for service in the Union army, in a cavalry regiment, and was sent into Tennessee, where he took part in the battle of Lookout Mountain, and was in a number of other engagements. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war and returned to Illinois. He came to Greene county in 1869, where he has since lived on a farm, but retired from active life five years ago. He is a member of the Baptist church. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born in Virginia and her early life was spent in that state, Indiana and Illinois, and she was married in the last named state. She is a member of the Baptist church. She received a common school education. To Robert Ramsey and wife eight children were born, namely: William F., John (deceased), James A. (subject); Mrs. Jennie Barnes, Albert, Frank (deceased); Mrs. Belle Vess, Mrs. Mollie McCurty(deceased).

James A. Ramsey came to Missouri with his parents when two years old and grew up on a farm in Greene county, and here he received a common school education. He worked on the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age, then rented a farm, later buying the place where he now resides, which consists of one hundred and twenty-nine acres, and on which is four good springs. It is well improved and one of the desirable farms of the township.

Mr. Ramsey was married in 1887 to Martha Trentham, to which union two children were born, Lee F., and Charle. Mr. Ramsey married for a second wife Sallie Latham, who was born in Greene county, November 2, 1888. She is a daughter of James and Mary Jane (Cox) Latham. The father was born in Tennessee, September 24, 1853, and is now living on a farm near Strafford, this county, having emigrated from his native state to Missouri in an early day. His wife, who was a native of Greene county, died some time ago. Mrs. Ramsey was reared on the home farm here and was in the district schools. To our subject's second union five children have been born, all living at home, namely: Mamie, October 16, 1904; Ivy, July 25, 1906; Ina, May 30, 1908; Ethel, December 11, 1910;and Ona, born May 26, 1913.

Politically, Mr. Ramsey is a Republican, and fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen.